Christopher Bell had a consistent year with Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series. Here, you can check out Bell’s 2023 season in review!
[autotag]Christopher Bell[/autotag] performed well when it mattered for a second straight year and that alone is enough for a successful 36-race stretch overall. Bell ended the season with two wins, 10 top-5 finishes, and 19 top-10 finishes. Unfortunately for the driver of the No. 20 car, he never had a true opportunity at the championship after losing his brakes at Phoenix Raceway.
Bell won at Bristol Dirt and Homestead-Miami Speedway with the latter being the reason for a second straight berth in the Championship 4. He was consistent all year but never was able to reach his full potential. Bell had three straight top-7 finishes leading into the finale while closing out the year with 599 laps led (sixth best) and a 12.9 average finishing position (fourth best).
CHRISTOPHER BELL WILL RACE FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP. Repost to congratulate the No. 20 team on their WIN at Homestead-Miami Speedway! pic.twitter.com/mlfhx89B2u
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver did struggle for a 16-race stretch starting at Kansas Speedway. Over those 16 events, Bell only had one top-5 finish and five top-10 finishes. He showed plenty of speed in a majority of those races but was unable to finish them out well due to crashes or mistakes on pit road. Luckily for the No. 20 team, it changed when the 2023 playoffs arrived.
If Bell wants to make the Championship 4 for a third straight season and win the title, he and the No. 20 team will need to limit mistakes overall. Bell has the potential to win more than two races and contend more often; however, it needs to be a team effort. Bell can become a true title threat every year but the mistakes simply need to disappear for that to happen more consistently.
Christopher Bell talks about crashing out durning the NASCAR Cup Series championship race at Phoenix Raceway in 2023.
[autotag]Christopher Bell[/autotag] appeared to have a car that would challenge eventual champion Ryan Blaney on the long runs at Phoenix Raceway; however, Bell’s day ended in a stunning fashion. The No. 20 car lost its brakes and ran into the wall. Bell’s car was destroyed and so were his hopes of winning a NASCAR Cup Series championship.
Last year, a caution and bad pit stop ended his chances at a title and another development out of his control did it again. Following the race, Bell talked about the incident and how he felt about losing out on a chance at winning the 2023 Cup Series title.
“I just ran out of brakes,” Bell said. “We’ve had really strong brakes all year long and haven’t had any issues, so it’s quite surprising to have a brake issue at a track where they are important but not as important as others.”
“It’s been good and I’m proud of the efforts, especially in the playoffs to make the final four…I’m not upset. You know, everyone’s trying their hardest and obviously, it’s just a part of it. I’m disappointed but it just wasn’t meant to be. I think right now, I’m still probably a little shocked and it probably hasn’t sunk in yet. But can only change what’s ahead of you.”
Bell only had two wins during the 2023 NASCAR season while he and crew chief Adam Stevens believe there is more potential for success. It is a very rough end of the year for Bell but there is no doubt that he will be back in the Championship 4 again. Bell is one of NASCAR’s best drivers and 2024 could be the year he finally breaks out as the best.
Christopher Bell’s pursuit of a first NASCAR Cup Series championship ends in heartbreak following a blown brake rotor at Phoenix Raceway.
[autotag]Christopher Bell[/autotag] never received a true shot to win his first NASCAR Cup Series championship as his day at Phoenix Raceway ended in heartbreak. Bell appeared to have a car that would have competed alongside eventual champion Ryan Blaney; however, the No. 20 car’s brakes didn’t end up lasting as he blew a brake rotor.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver’s race was over. Bell never had a realistic opportunity and has to wait until the 2024 NASCAR season to make it happen. It was a very disappointing finish for Bell, who was forced to watch the remainder of the race on TV as the other three Championship 4 drivers fought it out for a title.
Overall, it was still a very solid season for him in 2023. Bell ended the year with two victories, 10 top-5 finishes, and 19 top-10 finishes. The driver of the No. 20 car could have won a championship but it simply wasn’t meant to be. Bell will now look forward to the 2024 Daytona 500 to use his frustration as motivation for another strong campaign.
Christopher Bell suffered a first in his NASCAR Cup Series career Sunday when he blew a brake rotor on his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and was eliminated from championship contention. Bell crashed in Turn 3 on lap 108 while running sixth. It was the …
Christopher Bell suffered a first in his NASCAR Cup Series career Sunday when he blew a brake rotor on his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and was eliminated from championship contention.
Bell crashed in Turn 3 on lap 108 while running sixth. It was the culmination of having dealt with brake fade through the first stage, while the failure and subsequent crash happened nearly 50 laps later.
“Well that was my first time I’ve ever exploded a rotor in my career,” Bell said. “So, yeah, I was surprised, but early on in the race I had a little bit of brake fade, and the second run it just kept getting worse and worse. I don’t know. Just obviously a disappointing way to end.
“I’m super, super proud of this No. 20 team and all of our partners at DEWALT and Rheem. To be in the final four is something we’re really proud of.”
Bell admitted he was still a bit in shock after leaving the infield care center, and the moment hadn’t set in just yet. Part of what led to his surprise and disappointment at the failure that took him out of contention in the most inopportune time of the year is that Bell said there have been no issues with his brakes all season.
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“It’s quite surprising to have a brake issue at a track here where they are important, but not as important as some of the others,” he said. “I don’t know. It just wasn’t meant to be.”
The Gibbs driver felt he, along with rivals William Byron, Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney, had already shown strengths through the first portion of the race to set up an even fight to the finish.
“I’m not upset,” Bell said. “Everyone is trying their hardest and obviously, it’s just part of it. Disappointed, but it just wasn’t meant to be.”
The first driver out of the race, Bell will finish last, in 36th position. He will finish fourth in the championship standings.
“I’m very proud of the effort put forth by our team to get to the Championship 4, but I do feel like we left a lot on the table at various races throughout the year,” Bell said. “I’m excited about the future. We haven’t reached our potential yet.”
The circumstances around clinching his spot in the Championship 4 being so different from what happened a year ago means Christopher Bell is in a better place entering this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series season finale at Phoenix Raceway. “Just much …
The circumstances around clinching his spot in the Championship 4 being so different from what happened a year ago means Christopher Bell is in a better place entering this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series season finale at Phoenix Raceway.
“Just much more relaxed,” Bell said of himself on Thursday during media day. “I feel more prepared just because of the time we’ve had to get ready for this moment compared to last year being so far beneath the cutline and being in a must-win going into Martinsville (Speedway). We didn’t even talk about Phoenix until we left Martinsville, and now we’ve had two solid weeks to game plan what we’re going to do in practice and how we’re going to execute qualifying. I just feel much more prepared.”
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Bell clinched his spot two weeks ago with a victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He is the only Joe Gibbs Racing driver and Toyota Camry represented in the final four. Just as he was last year.
But unlike last year, Bell didn’t have to stress until the last moment to earn a shot at the Cup Series championship. Bell was over 30 points below the cutline going into the elimination race at Martinsville Speedway in 2022 and had to win the race to advance, which, of course, he did. It was his second walk-off win.
The victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway, however, came after Bell and his No. 20 team fought an ill-handling car and track position early in the day. It was a week after Bell felt his best opportunity to earn a spot at Phoenix had slipped away when he finished second to Kyle Larson in Las Vegas. Bell had started from the pole and led 61 laps.
In the Round of 8, Bell’s average finish was 3.3 with three top-10 finishes. He flew under the radar last weekend at Martinsville Speedway to close out the round.
Having worked his way into the championship race differently to last year, Bell hopes the result will be different, too. Twelve months ago he was in contention as the championship contenders made their final pit stops, but when one of his tire changers got his finger stuck between the nut and the spindle, it ended his chances.
Bell finished 10th in the race and fourth out of the four championship contenders.
“I learned a lot last year and one thing was, we weren’t super competitive last year,” Bell said. “We didn’t qualify well, we didn’t practice well, but whenever it came down to the end of the race, we still had an opportunity at it. I feel like most people didn’t see that.
“At the end of the race for the last green-flag pit stop, me and Joey [Logano] are within a second, I think, and then I followed him down pit road for the money stop in the championship event with … however many (laps) it was to go. So, with that being said, we weren’t as competitive as we wanted to be, and we were still in the thick of it.
“This year, we will be more competitive, and you’re not out of it until the checkered flag falls.”
Bell finished sixth at Phoenix Raceway in the spring.
Christopher Bell will get a second chance for a title at Phoenix. Find out why Bell will win the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series championship!
[autotag]Christopher Bell[/autotag]’s playoff situation wasn’t looking good at the end of Stage 2 at Homestead-Miami Speedway; however, the No. 20 team found success as the cooling process began. Bell was able to claw his way to the front of the pack and clinch a spot in the Championship 4. The 28-year-old driver will make his second straight appearance in the title race for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Bell has shown speed throughout the 2023 playoffs and earned the second-most points over the last nine races behind fellow Championship 4 driver William Byron. Now, he looks to finish the job at Phoenix Raceway this weekend.
Here, we go through three reasons why Bell will win the 2023 Cup Series championship at Phoenix this weekend.
After about nine months and 35 races since the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season began back in February, it all comes down to Sunday’s championship event at Phoenix Raceway.
Surviving the first nine races of the playoffs and edging out the other 12 title contenders, four drivers — Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, William Byron and Christopher Bell — will compete on the one-mile Arizona track for the 2023 championship.
The final four drivers represent three different teams and manufacturers with Larson and Byron competing in Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolets, while Blaney is in a Team Penske Ford and Bell a Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
So ahead of the NASCAR Cup Series championship race Sunday at Phoenix (3 p.m. ET, NBC), here are five things to know about the Championship 4 drivers.
This is probably not the last four drivers many had standing in the NASCAR Cup series postseason, or even a combination of some of them. But here we are in a Hendrick Motorsports versus Joe Gibbs Racing versus Team Penske battle, and it doesn’t …
This is probably not the last four drivers many had standing in the NASCAR Cup series postseason, or even a combination of some of them.
But here we are in a Hendrick Motorsports versus Joe Gibbs Racing versus Team Penske battle, and it doesn’t include the names Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., or Joey Logano.
The 2023 edition of the Championship 4 is not the sexiest, flashiest, most experienced or even the most quote-worthy. These four, however, represent the future of NASCAR for years to come, and they’ve put together respectable, but different kinds of seasons that still landed them all here.
Kyle Larson is the only previous champion in the bunch. He could become just the third driver to win multiple titles under the elimination format and at 31 years old, he’s the oldest of the bunch.
Christopher Bell, 28, is making a repeat trip to the Championships 4. How many playoff brackets had Bell as the lone representative for Joe Gibbs Racing?
William Byron has dominated the season and, at 25 years old, is experiencing his first championship battle. Byron returns to Phoenix as its most recent winner.
And then there’s 29-year-old Ryan Blaney, who has given Ford a chance to win a championship in one of its toughest seasons. Blaney, who bucks the stock car trend in not doing celebration burnouts, has reached the promised land in his eighth attempt.
Here is more on the drivers who will compete to be the next NASCAR Cup series champion:
Larson is the only previous champion in the final four. Nigel Kinrade/Motorsport Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports No. 5
Wins: 4 (Richmond I; Martinsville I; Darlington II; Las Vegas II)
Laps led: 1,127
Top 10 finishes: 17
Finishes in the playoffs: First, fourth, second, 31st, 15th, 13th, first, 34th, sixth
Championship 4 appearances: 2 (2021; 2023)
Larson clinched his spot with a victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the first race in the third round. It will be the first time Larson has been among the Championship 4 since winning his first championship in 2021. His other two finishes in the round were 34th at Homestead-Miami Speedway (when he arguably had the best car) and a quiet sixth-place finish at Martinsville Speedway.
It was pretty smooth sailing for Larson & Co. in the playoffs. Larson won the opening race of the playoffs, Darlington, to immediately clinch his spot in the second round. In the first round, Larson finished no worse than fourth. Although his numbers in the second round weren’t as pretty (his average finish was 19.6), it never felt like Larson was in a perilous position of not advancing.
Larson’s season has been solid but not without inconsistencies. During the regular season, Larson won twice in the first 10 races but also had four DNFs in that span. Of his eight DNFs, six came in the regular season. But no matter how far off the No. 5 team might be one weekend, there should never be any panic about the wheels completely coming off when Cliff Daniels is at the helm. Once the postseason started, Larson and his team have looked like the championship contenders they’re expected to be.
Bell is making his second consecutive final four appearance. Lesley Ann Miller/Motorsport Images
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20
Wins: 2 (Bristol dirt; Homestead-Miami)
Laps led: 599
Top 10 finishes: 19
Finishes in the playoffs: 23rd, eighth, third, fourth, 14th, 15th, second, first, seventh
Championship 4 appearances: 2 (2022; 2023)
Bell and his team have dug deep all year to perform and it’s brought them to the championship race once more. Multiple times during the regular season, Bell spoke of the potential the team was capable of but how they weren’t showing it. Mistakes. Misfortune. Just not being fast enough.
A victory on the Bristol dirt clinched Bell’s spot in the postseason and at one time, sat as high as second in the championship standings. Bell’s playoffs got off to a rocky start with issues on pit road and Bell making his share on the racetrack. But by the time the Round of 8 came around, it seemed everyone was settled and ready to take the next step.
Las Vegas was nearly flawless for the team as Bell won the pole and finished second. It went as well as it could have, being one spot short. Homestead-Miami Speedway, where Bell won, was the best example of how much they’ve dug deep this year. Bell drove with determination, the team did their jobs on pit road and got the car where it needed to be after early adjustments took them in the wrong direction.
The 28-year-old is quickly becoming one of the best the Cup series has to offer and by stacking up appearances in the championship round, seems well on the way to becoming a champion. Perhaps sooner rather than later in his career.
Byron is the youngest driver in the final four. Motorsport Images
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports No. 24
Wins: 6 (Las Vegas; Phoenix; Darlington; Atlanta II; Watkins Glen; Texas)
Laps led: 921
Top 10 finishes: 20
Finishes in the playoffs: Fourth, 15th, ninth, first, second, second, seventh, fourth, 13th
Championship 4 appearances: 1 (2023)
Byron, Rudy Fugle and the No. 24 team have been the best all season long. Byron leads the series in victories, top-10 finishes and is tied with two other drivers (Larson and Denny Hamlin) for the most top-five finishes. Their victories have come on every type of racetrack.
It is fitting and satisfying that the No. 1 seed in the postseason is racing for a championship. Byron had an incredible first two rounds with an average finish of 5.5 and after two top-10 finishes in the first two races of the third round, it seemed like Martinsville Speedway should have just been a formality with a 30-point advantage.
Instead, Byron and his team showed what they are capable of with one of his most impressive drives in the series. Byron battled his car and his body to reach the finish, while Fugle kept this driver in the game, and the team did what they needed to do on pit road. It wasn’t pretty, but the playoffs are about surviving and advancing, and they did when put in that position.
Competing for the championship is the next step in Byron’s career. Since being paired with Fugle, the two have continued to knock down different milestones, from how far they’ve gone in the postseason to how many races they’ve won in a season. Now they have an opportunity to cap off what has already been a career year.
Blaney heads to Phoenix with momentum on his side. John Harrelson/Motorsport Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske No. 12
Wins: 3 (Charlotte; Talladega II; Martinsville II)
Laps led: 560
Top-10 finishes: 17
Finishes in the playoffs: Ninth, 12th, 22nd, 28th, first, 12th, sixth, second, first
Championship 4 appearances: 1 (2023)
Until Austin Cindric was moved into the Cup series last season, Ryan Blaney had always been “the other Penske driver.” Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski were champions with multiple appearances in the Championship 4, while Blaney could never seem to get over the hump and played the wingman to his more accomplished teammates.
Blaney was there but never really championship-relevant.
Finally, Blaney has broken through the ceiling, and he did so with a great third round of the postseason that made it hard to write him off. Blaney’s average finish was third in the Round of 8 with speed, execution, and a solid pit crew doing their part. Sunday at Martinsville Speedway was a masterclass and a bit unexpected, considering that Blaney has gone there in the Round of 8 before and left disappointed.
Momentum is real and it’s on Blaney’s side. The No. 12 team has to be feeling dangerous, having made it this far and the way they’ve been running. Also, don’t forget Blaney felt he had the best car in the finale at Phoenix last year but played the bridesmaid … to teammate Logano’s championship effort. But now, it’s finally all eyes on Blaney.
This NASCAR crew chief believes Christopher Bell is a “generational” talent. Find out what else this crew chief had to say about Bell!
[autotag]Christopher Bell[/autotag] sarcastically told spotter Stevie Reeves on the radio that he would “start trying” after the latter said he should fight to stay on the lead lap in Stage 2 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Well, the next 100 laps proved why Bell is the most clutch driver of the NextGen car era as he willed the No. 20 car to victory lane for a Championship 4 spot.
It was a very impressive performance by Bell and the No. 20 team as crew chief Adam Stevens threw the kitchen sink at the car throughout the event. Following the race, Stevens talked about the Joe Gibbs Racing driver and had very high praise after watching him preserve at Homestead.
“Yeah, (Christopher Bell) is a generational talent in this sport,” Stevens said. “He is as good as they come. He’s still learning. We’re still learning each other as a team. If you get him close, he can get the job done. We’ve proven it time and time again.”
CHRISTOPHER BELL WILL RACE FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP. Repost to congratulate the No. 20 team on their WIN at Homestead-Miami Speedway! pic.twitter.com/mlfhx89B2u
“We got to do a better job as a team and as a company keeping him in contention. When we do that, he’s able to claw his way up there and make stuff happen like the great ones do.”
Bell and Stevens are in their third year together, and they are only getting better. The No. 20 team will now put its focus toward Phoenix Raceway as they return to the Championship 4 for a second straight season. After coming up short in 2022, Bell will hope to finally secure his first NASCAR Cup Series championship.
Christopher Bell doesn’t want to be labeled NASCAR’s new “closer” but he has emerged as the sport’s most clutch driver in the NextGen car.
[autotag]Christopher Bell[/autotag] didn’t need a victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in July 2022 but it ended up being the reason why he raced for a championship. Well, one of the three reasons. Without that win, Bell likely would have missed the 2022 playoffs in a disappointing season with Joe Gibbs Racing. Instead, the driver of the No. 20 car rose to the moment two more times.
At the Charlotte ROVAL, Bell had a 45-point deficit to the playoff cut-line and needed a win to advance. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver accomplished the goal and even had the biggest walk-off victory in playoff history. Fast forward to the Round of 8 finale at Martinsville Speedway and Bell did it again with a 33-point deficit, which is the second-biggest walk-off to this date.
It didn’t end with a NASCAR Cup Series championship but it showed how Bell is the most clutch driver in the NextGen car era. That was further proven at Homestead-Miami Speedway when crew chief Adam Stevens figured out a way to give the No. 20 car what it needed to not only stay on the lead lap but also win the race. Bell just needed the car and got it done at one of his worst tracks.
CHRISTOPHER BELL WILL RACE FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP. Repost to congratulate the No. 20 team on their WIN at Homestead-Miami Speedway! pic.twitter.com/mlfhx89B2u
Now, Bell will fight for a title at Phoenix Raceway next to Kyle Larson, who is the driver that prevented his victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the previous event. While many have called him NASCAR’s new closer, Bell doesn’t want to take away from Kevin Harvick’s greatness when asked if he will carry the Stewart-Haas Racing driver’s legacy. He just wants to be himself.
“I don’t know. I mean, Harvick is obviously one of the greatest to ever do it. I’m a far stretch from that,” Bell said. “I am proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish I guess is the right way to say it. But I don’t think that anybody will be The Closer. That’s Kevin’s motto, that’s what he did. Hopefully, I’m Christopher Bell.”
Out of respect for Harvick and Bell’s wishes, the sport can refrain from calling the latter NASCAR’s new “closer.” Instead, the sport’s competitors can acknowledge that the Joe Gibbs Racing driver will continue to persevere through whatever comes his way. Bell won’t be the favorite at Phoenix in two weeks, but it would be incredibly foolish to count him out.
